Alberta Conservative Leadership Vote: Meet The Candidates

The six candidates vying to become the next leader of Alberta's Progressive Conservatives. The winner will also become premier.

Doug Griffiths: A 38-year-old, three-term legislature member from the Battle River-Wainwright constituency. A former teacher, Griffiths has focused on revitalizing communities along with better long-term planning for health and the energy industry. He has urged voters to look past his youth and lack of cabinet experience. His signature slogan: "Amateurs built the ark. Experts built the Titanic."

Doug Horner: A 50-year-old former businessman who left his post as deputy premier and minister of advanced education to run. Represents Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert. His family political pedigree dates back three generations. He has urged Albertans to dream big and to put more money into research and innovation funds to grow and diversify the province.

Gary Mar: A 49-year-old, Calgary-born health minister under former premier Ralph Klein. He quit as a politician when Ed Stelmach took over as premier to serve as Alberta's envoy in Washington, a post he left to run for the leadership. He promises a new era of growth, diversity of industry, new markets in Asia and transparent government.

Ted Morton: A 62-year-old former university professor representing Foothills-Rocky View. Was minister of finance and sustainable resources until he decided to run. He promises balanced budgets and environmentally sustainable growth. Says his conservative bona fides will keep voters from gravitating to the right-wing rival Wildrose party.

Rick Orman: A 63-year-old Calgary oil executive who was energy minister under former premier Don Getty. He has been a thorn in the sides of the other candidates, criticizing them for distancing themselves from laws they passed in government such as land-use legislation that critics say gives cabinet power to arbitrarily take private land.

Alison Redford: — A 46-year-old lawyer, human rights activist and former justice minister. She has promised to turn Alberta into a global hub for energy research and to reform health care from within. Stelmach has suggested she's a political turncoat for demanding a full independent inquiry into allegations that politicians were helping a favoured few get faster health treatment. Represents Calgary-Elbow.